Spider Control
Black house spiders, huntsmen, redbacks, white-tails and the Newcastle funnel-web, and what treatment reaches each one.
Service Overview
Every home in the Hunter gets the odd spider, but they are not all the same problem. Around Newcastle, Maitland and the Hunter you will mostly meet black house spiders on exterior walls, huntsmen wandering indoors after dark, redbacks in outdoor clutter, white-tailed spiders hunting at night, and, after summer rain, the Newcastle funnel-web. A general pest treatment handles web-builders on structures, while targeted treatments directly address ground-dwelling and harbouring species.
Benefits
- • The species identified first, because a web-builder and a ground-dweller are not treated the same way
- • Perimeter treatment aimed at black house spiders and other web-builders on the structure
- • A targeted treatment available for harbourage zones and entry points: meter boxes, woodpiles, eaves, garden edges and active ground burrows
- • Fewer insects around the home, which is what actually reduces huntsman sightings over time
Risks of Delay
- • Redback bites are painful and require medical evaluation, though antivenom makes fatal outcomes extremely rare
- • The Newcastle funnel-web is highly venomous: do not handle or relocate one yourself
- • White-tailed spiders chase prey rather than building webs, which is why traditional web-focused sprays miss them
- • Black house spider webs in window corners, under eaves and along fence lines leave an unsightly mess
- NSW Pest Management Technician Licence No. 5207081
- Same technician: Prajj, every visit
- Upfront pricing
- 6-month warranty on standard residential treatments
Five spiders worth knowing
Here is how to tell them apart, and what professional treatments can and cannot do about each species.
| Species | Where you find them | Identification and risk |
|---|---|---|
| Black house spiderBadumna species | The funnel-shaped webs in window corners, under eaves and along fence lines are almost always this one. It rarely leaves its web. | A bite is uncommon and not dangerous. The main complaint is the unsightly visual mess. This is the primary target of a routine perimeter spray, as it lives right where the treatment is applied. |
| Huntsman spiderSparassidae family | Usually spotted on an interior wall or ceiling in the evening. It enters seeking insects rather than specific shelter. | Big, flat and quick, and harmless despite the initial fright it causes. Reducing indoor and outdoor insect populations through a general pest package is what actually reduces huntsman sightings over time. |
| Redback spiderLatrodectus hasseltii | Dry, undisturbed spots close to ground level: under outdoor furniture, meter boxes, stacked pots or garden toys. Common across the Hunter region. | Black with a distinctive red stripe down the abdomen. Bites are painful and require medical evaluation, though antivenom makes fatal outcomes extremely rare. |
| White-tailed spiderLampona species | Often found on skirting boards, or hiding in clothes and towels left on the floor. It chases prey rather than building webs, which is why traditional web-focused sprays miss it. | A slim, dark grey active hunter with a pale-tipped tail. Its reputation for severe skin ulcers is unproven clinically, and bites generally resemble a bee sting. |
| Newcastle funnel-webAtrax christenseni | Wandering males appear in yards, garages and pools following summer rain. | Confirmed in 2025 as a distinct species north of Newcastle, separate from and larger than the Sydney funnel-web. Highly venomous: avoid direct handling or personal relocation, and professional harbourage treatment is strongly advised. |
What actually controls each one
General Pest Package
From $220 inc. GST
Black house spiders and other web-builders on the main structure, alongside cockroaches, ants and silverfish.
Targeted Spider Treatment
Contact for quote
Harbourage zones and entry points: meter boxes, woodpiles, eaves, garden edges and active ground burrows.
For ground-dwelling and harbourage species: funnel-webs, redbacks and white-tails.
Which one you need depends on the type and location of the spider activity. General pest control is suitable for many web-building spiders and also targets insects that spiders feed on. Targeted treatment may be more appropriate where ground-dwelling or harbourage species are the main concern.
Seasonal patterns in the Hunter
Spider activity builds from late spring through autumn as warmth increases prey insects.
Newcastle funnel-web males wander most frequently following summer storms.
Indoor species slow down during mild coastal winters but rarely disappear entirely.
General pest package pricing
These are the general pest packages, which cover the web-builders on the structure. A targeted spider treatment is a separate job and is quoted on its own.
1–2 Bedroom Home
From $220inc. GST
- Internal & external treatment
- Spiders, cockroaches, ants & silverfish
- Entry points & skirting boards
3–4 Bedroom Home
From $250inc. GST
- Full internal & external treatment
- Roof void & subfloor (if accessible)
- Perimeter barrier protection
5+ Bedroom / Acreage
From $290inc. GST
- Full property coverage
- Garages, sheds & structures
- Tailored treatment plan
Prices are indicative and subject to property size and access. Final quote provided before treatment. Standard residential packages include a 6-month service warranty.
See the full pricing guideHow a spider treatment is carried out
Identify what is active
Which spiders, webs and egg sacs are present decides the treatment. Web-building species and ground-dwelling or harbourage species are not handled the same way.
Treat the structure
Exterior areas such as eaves, window surrounds, walls, entry points and suitable harbourage areas can be assessed as part of the treatment. Removal of existing webs may be recommended or carried out where appropriate.
Treat the harbourage
Where ground-dwelling or harbourage species are the main concern, a targeted treatment addresses the sheltered zones and entry points around the property.
Cutting down spider activity yourself
None of this replaces a treatment, but it takes away the shelter and the insects that keep spiders around.
- Shake out shoes, towels and clothing left on floors or outdoors prior to use.
- Keep garden beds, mulch and woodpiles clear of immediate exterior house walls.
- Wear heavy gloves when moving stored boxes, garden pots or stacked firewood.
- Seal gaps beneath external doors and fit fine mesh over open weep holes.
- Reduce outdoor clutter, and reduce the insect activity around the property that spiders feed on.
Where we treat
Based in Cameron Park, NSW 2285. Service areas:
- Newcastle
- Lake Macquarie
- Maitland
- Hunter Region
Service Specific FAQs
Not sure whether a general pest treatment or a targeted spider treatment is the right one? Tell us what you are finding and where, and it can be assessed.
Get a free quote from Prajj
Tell us what you are seeing and where you are, and you will get a price for spider control. Free and no obligation.
Free and no obligation. Replies within 24 hours on business days.
- 02 4963 2274
- admin@greentoppest.com.au
- NSW Pest Management Technician Licence No. 5207081